External loading device for vacuum cleaner



- 1955 ca. E. LOFGREN ETAL EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 19, 1952 6 Sheets-Shegt l INVENTORS 1955 e. E. LOFGREN ETAL EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE. FOR VACUUM CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1952 mON 6m Q N mow nwom mmw INVENTORS GUSTQFE/IVAR LOFGEEN JOHN Z'iZ'REAR/S 2 TORNEY [386- 1955 G. E. LOFGREN ET AL EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1952 INVENTORS I? AOFGRE/V REAR/S GUSTIF 5W4 JOHN BTY If 1955 G. E. LOFGREN ET AL 2,725,952

EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 19, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 lib INVENTO RS (Fl/5227f .EWAR AOFGRB/V a'omv 7. FEE/MRI;

N h BY 1955 s. E. LOFGREN ET AL EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 19, 1952 INVENTORS GUSMiE/AMR LOFGREIV JOHN T FER/MR/S BY 2 t 7; ATTORNEY 6, 1955 G. E. LOFGREN ET AL 2,725,952

EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 19, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 O C) T O S G O N m 0 N O BY 3 Z WTTORN EY Dec. 6, 1955 s. E. LOFGREN ET AL EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 19, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 RA Y O E THE N N R R l 0 VRR N a w IMF A M m TN United States PatentO EXTERNAL LOADING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANER Gustaf Einar Lofgren, Riverside, and John T. Ferraris, Cos Cob, Conn, assignors to Electrolux Corporatinn, Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of Deiaware Application June 19, 1952, Serial No. 291,502 8 Claims. (Cl. 183-37) in a porous disposable bag located within the cleaner and when the collected dirt effects a predetermined change in the operating efiiciency of the cleaner, the latter automatically shuts itself oft and disposes of the dirt filled bag by ejecting the latter from the cleaner.

It is a major object of this invention to provide a new and improved vacuum cleaner having externally manipulated means for loading a spring mechanism to eject from the cleaner a self-sealing porous and disposable paper bag filled with dust and dirt separated from the suction air stream during normal operation of the cleaner.

Still other and further objects will be disclosed hereinbelow or will become evident to those skilled in the art after a careful study of the following description together with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete cleaner as seen from the air intake end, together with its conventional hose, wand and nozzle;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and more clearly shown as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the spring loading assembly in greater detail;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on theline 5-5 of'Fig. 4 showing the spring loading assembly in further detail; t

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line v 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of this invention taken from a position somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 8 is a partial top plan view, partially in section,

of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

1 Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7, showing the bag ejector plate in plan view;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of still another embodiment of this invention taken from a position some what similar to that shown in Fig. 2; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 10 taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, vacuum cleaner outer housing 10, Fig. 1, is a hollow casing having a handle 11. It is appropriately supported on a pair of runners, 12. The suction or inlet portion of the casing 10 is provided with an inlet nozzle 13a and I,

15 extends through the opening 32,

Switch button 10a,

to take a bag of substantially similar wand 13b together with a suitable flexible hose 13, and connecting coupling 14 fitted into a movable hose .coupling assembly 15 which is anteriorly mounted by parallel linkage including front end assembly 16. Front assembly 16, Figs. 2 and 3 is hinged at 17 to front body ring 20 and biased to open position by spring 18; assembly '16 efi'ects with outer housing 10 an air tight seal formed by rubber sealing ring member 19, cardboard disc 31, Fig. 3, of dust bag 30 and sealing ring 22 positioned in the bag insertion opening of front body ring 20. 'Ilibular member 21 of the hose coupling assembly Fig. 3, cut in cardboard disc 31 well into the dust collecting receptacle 30, and is sealed against disc 31 by rubber sealing ring 19. Fig. 2, on the upper front surface of cleaner housing 10 provides the on-and-oif manual control for the'cleaner unit.

A perforated inner liner 23 is afiixed at one end to from body ring20 and is adapted for supporting dust bag 30 (of disposable paper or, if desired, cloth construction). This entire unit (inner liner 23, body ring 20, etc.,) is slidably fitted within the open end of cleaner housing 10 and is afiixed thereto by suitable retaining screws. In the embodiment shown, the liner 23 is substantially rectangular in cross-section and is thus adapted but slightly smaller cross-section 30, Figs. 2 and 3.

Dust bag 30, Fig. 2, comprises a dust receptacle of paper or similarly air-pervious, dust-impervious, material 33 affixed at its mouth to the rear surface of a hard paper or cardboard disc 31, the latter being clamped between rubber sealing ring 19 of hose coupling assembly 15 and the open end of front body ring 20 with the aid of seal- ,ing ring 22. Cardboard disc 31 has a central opening 32 through which tubular member to introduce the air and entrained interior of dust bag 30.

The entire inner surface of perforated inner liner 23 which encloses a space for receiving a dust bag is provided with apertures 27, Figs. 2 and 3, in order to permit free passage of suction air current therethrough and into chamber 40. The suction air current then passes to the rear of the vacuum cleaner housing 10 containing the motor fan compartment which has a conventional fan and motor unit mounted therein.

The dust bag ejector mechanism 51, Figs. 2 and 3 21 is inserted in order dust directly into the includes an ejector plate 52 affixed to and movably mount- .an arrangement, utilizing'an interlocking shaft 82, main tains ejector plate 52 vertically disposed throughout its travel. The upper front sprocket 83a is an idler, whereas lower front sprocket 8312, Figs. 5 and 6, is afiixed to axle which in turn is adapted to be rotated by spiral spring 85 having one end affixed to axle 84, while the other end is held securely anchored in holding means 86. Pinion 87 affixed to the lower end of axle 84 is adapted to be rotated by engagement with the curved rack 91, Figs. 2, 4 and 5, of spring loading arm 92 fulcrumed at 93 and adapted to rewind spring 85 while rotating sprocket 83b whereby ejector plate 52 is returned to its loaded position and releasably held there as described in more detail below. Ejector plate 52 is slidably mounted by sleeve 52a on guide rod 57 which also helps to maintain plate 52 oriented correctly throughout its region of travel. The rear Wall 60 is affixed to the rear end of perforated inner liner 23 and has a slot 61 cut therein to receive a tongue 56a which rigidly supports rear mounting member 56 of the ejector mechanism 51. Suitable bulkheads are provided within the outer housing 10 to adequately support and align perforated inner liner '23.

The ejector plate 52 of ejector mechanism 51, is held in spring loaded position by releasable latching means which engages a depending lug 52b, Fig. 2. Lug 52b is integral with plate 52 and sleeve 52a and engages spring latch 62 when plate 52 is drawn back into loaded position, see Fig. 2. Spring latch 62 is afiixed at one end to latch bar 63, and moves over a limited range therewith while simultaneously travelling down the inclined edge 5617, Fig. 2, of the cam bracket portion 56c of rear mounting member 56 and towards the end of its travel, spring latch 62 slips under the bottom edge of depending lug 52b whereupon ejector mechanism 51 is released to effect dust bag ejection. Latch bar 63 is slidably mounted on guide rod 57, at one end by sleeve 6311, Figs. 2 and 4, and at the other by apertured upwardly bent end portion 63b..

The particular details of one embodiment for a restraining mechanism adapted to control the movement of latch bar 63 is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In these figures, latch bar restraining and releasing pin 70, biased to latching position by the upwardly biased diaphragm of pneumatically operated means 250, projects through an opening formed in base plate shelf 80a. Pin 70 is adapted by axial movement to be withdrawnfrom its latch bar restraniing position (Fig. 2) to its latch bar releasing position (shown in Fig. 3).

The above latch bar restraining and releasing pin 70 for controlling operation of the ejector mechanism is operated by cooperative association with appropriate selectively operable triggering mechanism. Thus, pin 70, is adapted to be selectively moved from its normal position (shown in Fig. 2) to its withdrawn position (shown in Fig. 3) by the downward movement of extension 254 integral with pin 70 and attached at its lower end to the diaphragm of pneumatically operated means 250. The withdrawal of pin 70 releases for counterclockwise rotation pin retaining finger 90a, Figs. 2 and 3, which, in the form of a lever arm fulcrumed on shaft 90b and affixed thereto to move as a unit functions to prevent relatching of latch bar 63 by pin 70. The entire pin retaining unit, 90a, etc., is spring biased to effect this movement by spring 90d. This selective withdrawal of pin 70 is effected by automatic triggering initiated by pneumatically actuated means 250 (described below and in considerably more detail in patent application Serial No. 256,100, filed November 13, 1951, since issued as Patent No. 2,667,943.

Thus the above-mentioned selective positioning of pin 70 results in the superpositioning of retaining finger 90a (see view, Fig. 3) above pin 70 to retain the latter in releasing position out of the path of latch bar 63. This lowering of pin 70 pivots latch 100 to release the front end assembly 16 which is moved to open position by spring 18. The movement of pin 70 also enables sprocket and chain mechanism 51 to effect the movement of latch bar 63 necessary to cause spring latch 62 to release lug 52b and effect bag ejection.

With this particular latching device for restraining the ejector mechanism 51, plate 52 is held in loaded position until assembly 16 and/or assembly have undergone a substantial movement and the suction air current has decreased sufficiently to enable spring 85 to effect bag ejection. Assembly 16 is held closed by latch 100, Figs. 2 and 3; latch 100 is fulcrumed at 101 and biased to latching position by spring 102.

The cleaner housing 10 may be opened for inspection of the bag and its contents, however, without necessarily ejecting the dust bag by manually lifting the externally protruding end 1000 of latch 100, Figs. 2 and 3, thereby releasing the front end assembly 16. Then, since pin 70 most likely will not have been selectively positioned (withdrawn) to latch bar releasing position, pin 70 will still restrain latch bar 63 and hence ejector 51 from discharging the dust bag.

It is to be noted that pneumatically operated device 250 4 in addition to triggering pin 70 and setting the mechanism for the subsequent release of ejector restraining latch bar 63 also releases, substantially simultaneously, the cover retaining latch 100 by actuating arm 100a, Figs. 2, and 3, formed as a part of latch release arm fulcrumed at 75a, tripping the latch 100 to release member 16.

The parallel linkage of the hose coupling assembly 15 to the front ring 20 is most clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3. There, link 115 pivoted at 116 to front ring 20 and at 117 to hose coupling assembly 15 forms one link in the parallel linkage while cover 16 fulcrumed at 17 to front ring 20 and at 118 to hose coupling assembly 15 forms the other link.

Button 10a, Fig. l, on the upper front surface of housing 10 operates a circuit make and break switch 110, Figs. 2 and 3 of the conventional toggle type snap switch. This button 10a is locked in otf position when cover 16 is open by pressure exerted by a sliding mechanism 113 biased to the left, Fig. 2, by spring 114. Thus, although button 10a may be used to start and stop the motor fan unit while the cover 16 remains closed, the opening of cover 16 with the circuit closed causes a lug 16c, Fig. 2, to release slide 113 and inclined surface 96 actuates a lug on switch button 10a and moves button 10a forward thereby opening the toggle switch circuit, stopping the motor fan unit and otherwise deenergizing the unit.

The electrical and pneumatic control units are operatively interrelated. The pneumatically operated device 250 consists of a large upwardly spring biased diaphragm which is operatively connected to the high suction side of the vacuum cleaner chamber 40 by conduit 255, the top chamber 220, perforations in the supporting ring 242 of valve 240, center opening 202a in casing 202, upper chamber 205 of a pressure differential measuring device (see Figs. 2 and 3) and conduit 225 to the opening 230 in the inner sealed chamber 40.

The pneumatic system includes a pressure differential measuring device (lower half of 200 below casing 202) which initiates the lifting of valve 240 and combined therewith is an auxiliary valve lifting membrane 270 (upper half of 200 above casing 202) which completes the opening of valve 240 and holds it open until power diaphragm 250 completes its work. The lower half of unit 200 comprises a pressure differential measuring control device, Figs. 2 and 3, having a lower casing 201 and an upper casing 202, separated by a diaphragm 203. The space in the lower casing below diaphragm 203 is connected by communicating conduit 210, Figs. 2 and 3, to opening 215 on the dirty or dust collecting side of the dust bag, while the space in the upper casing above the diaphragm is connected by communicating conduit 225 to opening 230, on the clean side of the dust bag.

The upper half of unit 200 comprises an auxiliary valve lifting device having a lower casing 202 and an upper casing 204, separated by a diaphragm 270 having a fixed periphery and a fixed perforated center portion through which valve 240 moves. Valve 240 is biased normally to closed position by a spring 240a. Valve stem 241 is adjustable to various heights for initiating its opening by diaphragm 203. When valve 240 is opened it communicates high suction to the interior of pneumatically operating triggering device 250, comprising a lower casing 251, Figs. 2 and 3, sealed by a diaphragm biased to distended or upward position by a spring and capable of actuating tripping mechanism through link member 254. With this device, membrane 270 (open on its lower surface to the atmosphere through opening 2021; and subject upon the opening of valve 240 to high suction on its upper surface) assures the completion of the operating cycle including the release of both pin 70 and the latch by maintaining valve 240 in wide open position through a lifting action exerted on the outer edges of valve supporting ring 242 diaphragm 270 (see Fig. 3).

With the opening of front end assembly 16, the discharge of the bag and the slowing down of the motor fan unit, atmospheric pressure is reestablishedon both sides of each of diaphragms 203 and 270 which are returned to their original positions shown in Fig. 2, under the biasing action of springs 203a and 240a, respectively. The electrical system for energizing the motor fan unit and the electrical controls are of the conventional form y the upwardly distended and hence need not be. specifically described.

In detail and particularly with respect to the operation of the pneumatic and electrical controls and referring especially to Figs. 2 and 3, where details of struchim are illustrated, the force exerted on the pressure differential membrane 203 progressively increases with continued dust collection, until it attains sutficient value to open valve 240 slightly by lifting stem 241 whereupon high suction is applied to the upper surface of diaphragm 270 and permits atmospheric pressure to hold valve 240 open. This allows high suction to operate pneumatically functioning device 250 which in turn through extension 254 and latch pin release arm 75, etc., selectively positions pin 70 so that pin 70 is prevented from relatching, first by pin retaining finger 90a (see Fig. 3) and then later by the under side of superpositioned latch bar 63. The opening of cover 16 releases switch deenergizing mechanism 113. The decelerating motor fan unit causes a drop in the suction air current. This frees latch bar 63 for further forward travel, causes latch spring 62 to ride down the inclined edge 56b of cam bracket 56c to release lug 52b holding ejection plate 52.

Thus, substantially simultaneously with the withdrawal of pin 70, lever arm 100a, Figs. 2 and 3, trips cover releasing latch 100 which holds cover assembly 16 closed against spring tension. The release of cover 16 first breaks a circuit at the'contact points of switch 310, Fig. 2, by lug 16c releasing sliding mechanism 113 which latter is biased by spring 114 to throw switch 316 to off position, thereby deenergizing the motor fan unit. Thereafter the front cover continues its opening movement and after moving substantially 90, while the suction air current drops sufiiciently to release the bag ejector mechanism 51 through a previously traced series of steps, and allow the bag ejector plate 52, Fig. 2, to push the bag forward and throw the bag and its contained dirt out of the cleaner casing.

The ejector plate 52 moves forward and outward when released until arrested by the abutments 23a, 23b, of perforated inner liner 23, Fig. 2. The momentum of the moving dust-filled bag causes it to continue onward in its own trajectory out of the cleaner casing after which it comes to rest on the floor.

The reloading or repositioning of ejector mechanism 51 so as to ready the cleaner for the insertion of a clean bag (see Figs. 2 and 4) is effected by pushing loading arm 92, Figs. 2, 4 and 5, manually all the way back under the cleaner outer housing to the position shown in Fig. 4 until lug 52b passes over and beyond the restraining edge of spring latch 62; then, by continuing the backward travel of ejector plate 52, depending lug 52b strikes upwardly extending portion 63b of latch bar 63 and the entire latch bar 63 is moved sufliciently far back so as to allow pin 70 (biased upwardly by the power diaphragm spring) to rise until the forward end 63a of latch bar 63 is securely held against pin 70 (see Fig. 2).

The embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 utilizes the same ejector release mechanism as that above described. The dust bag ejector mechanism 151, however, is shown as comprising an ejector plate 152 slidably mounted by sleeve 52a on guide rod 57 but in this embodiment ejector plate 152 is actuated by the scissors or lazy tongs ejector mechanism 153 which can be extended into full loaded condition by pushing backwards on spring loading arm 192 fulcrumed at 193 and integral- 1y keyed together with one of the" front pair of scissors blades 153a by key 193a. Mutually intermeshing gear teeth 154 cut in coacting portions of the front-pairof scissors blades. 153a cooperate with sleeve 52 a slidably mounted on guide rod 57 to keep ejector .plate 152 oriented correctly throughout the extent of its travel. The scissors mechanism is biased to fully flexed position by loading springs 158, Fig. 7, mounted over pin 193.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and llis somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 1 through 6 except that the sprocket and chain driven dust bag ejector mechanism 251 is mounted laterally instead of vertically. It includes an ejector plate 252 atfixed to and movably mounted on a pair of chains 251a and 251b (not shown) which ride over sprockets 281a and 2811: (not shown) affixed to common shaft 282. Here again one of the front sprockets is an idler, whereas front sprocket 283b, Figures 10 and 11 is atfixed to axle 284 which in turn is adapted to be rotated by spiral spring 285 having one end aflixed to axle 284, while the other end is securely anchored in holding means 286. Pinion 287 afiixed to the outer end of axle 284 is adapted to be rotated by engagement with internal gear 221 mounted on shaft 293. Spring loading arm 292 securely fastened to gear 291 is adapted to be manually actuated to rewind spring 285 while rotating sprocket 283b whereby ejector plate252, is returned to its loaded position and releasably held there by latching mechanism 62, Fig. 10, in a manner similar to that described above in connection with Figs. 1 through 6.

Inasmuch as the ejector plate, in order to eject the bag, must move through the bag compartment in which, during operation of the cleaner, there is maintained a partial vacuum, while the reloading handles 92, .192 or 292 must be accessible for operation from the exterior of the casing, it is necessary to provide a substantially airtight seal between the moving parts where the motion of the handle is transmitted through the casing in order to prevent the leakage of atmospheric air into the latter. In each of the three embodiments herein described this is accomplished by transmitting rotary motion through the casing, as a shaft extending through a closely fitting aperture provides a sufficiently tight seal for air at the relatively small pressure difierences here involved. This rotary motion is translated within the casing to rectilinear motion by either the chain and sprocket or lazy tong arrangements in order to obtain the desired movement of the ejector plate.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments herein described in considerable detail are merely illustrative of the invention which is to be limited in scope solely by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, structure movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a spring for moving said structure, a member extending through said outer housing and movable for stressing said spring, means for restraining said spring in stressed condition, means for releasing said restraining means, and means providing a substantially air tight seal between said movable member and said outer housing.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, structure comprising a sprocket and chain mechanism having means attached to said chain and movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a spring for moving said structure, a member extending through said outer housing and movable for stressing said spring, means for restraining said spring in stressed condition, means for releasing said re- 7 straining means, and means providing a substantially air tight seal between said movable member and said outer housing.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, structure comprising a lazy tongs having means attached thereto movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a spring for moving said structure, a member extending through said outer housing and movable for stressing said spring, means for restraining said spring in stressed condition, means for releasing said restraining means, and means providing a substantially air tight seal between said movable mem' bet and said outer housing.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, structure movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a coil spring for moving said structure, a rotatable shaft extending through said outer housing for winding said spring, means for restraining said coil spring in wound condition, means for releasing said restraining means, and means providing a substantially air tight seal between said rotatable shaft and said outer housing.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, structure movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a spring for moving said structure, a member extending through said outer housing and movable for stressing said spring, means for restraining said spring in stressed condition, means for releasing said restraining means, means providing a substantially air tight seal between said movable member and said outer housing, a cover movable with respect to said housing for securing said dust bag within said housing and in said space, and means responsive to an increase in resistance to air flow through said dust bag for releasing said cover and releasing said spring restraining means.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing insertable into and removable from said space a space for a dust bag, a dust bag through said opening, structure movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a spring for moving said structure, a shaft extending through said outer housing and movable for stressing said spring, means for restraining said spring in stressed condition, means for releasing said restraining means, and means providing a substantially air tight seal between said movable shaft and said outer housing.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, a member movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a coil spring for moving said member, a shaft extending through said outer housing for winding said spring, means for restraining said coil spring in wound condition, means connected to the outer end of said shaft for turning the latter, a cover movable with respect to said housing for securing said dust bag within said housing and in said space, and means responsive to an increase in resistance to air flow through said dust bag for releasing said cover and said coil spring restraining means.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, an outer housing having an opening and enclosing a space for a dust bag, a dust bag insertable into and removable from said space through said opening, structure movable within said housing and through said space for ejecting said dust bag, a spring for moving said structure, a member extending through said outer housing and movable for stressing said spring, a handle for actuating said member, means for restraining said spring in stressed condition, means for releasing said restraining means, and means providing a substantially airtight seal between said movable member and said outer housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

